Planescape: Torment

September 9th, 2010, 21:56

A sinister AD&D fantasy RPG produced by Guido Henkel (Realms of Arkania games), Planescape Torment is powered by the Infinity engine that was also used in the Baldur's Gate series and Icewind Dale.
You play a scarred, amnesiac immortal in search of his identity. You awake on a cold stone slab in the Mortuary of the City of Sigil. You have no idea how you got there, who you are, or any of your past identity(s). You must escape and explore the strange world to uncover the secret of your death and rebirth…More information.

-- In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. Douglas AdamsA lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. Winston ChurchillSome cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go. Oscar Wilde

Planescape: Torment is a story driven crpg of the so called "Nameless One" that takes place in Sigill - the center of the AD&D-Multiverse. The game has memorable NPCs like

Morte, the floating skull,Dak'kon, a githzerai,Nordom, a modron disconnected from its species' hive mind,Fall-From-Grace is a succubus-proprietress of the Brothel of Slating Intellectual Lusts,Vhailor an animated suit of armor,Ignus, a pyromaniacal mage,Annah-of-the-Shadows, a young and brash thief and tiefling.

Your main character - The Nameless One - has one main quest: "Who am I and why I am immortal ?" - he has to travel through Sigill, through planes, through his own mind and past existences to find answers.

The game is not combat heavy, there are some interesting factions in the game and a lot of dialog; in fact the game is like an interactive novel. Many quests can be solved by asking the right questions and giving the right answers at the right time.

If you're searching for an unique crpg with many new ideas, lots of dialog, non-standard races, interesting party interaction and a cool story - here's your game.

Originally Posted by HiddenXPlanescape: Torment is a story driven crpg of the so called "Nameless One" that takes place in Sigill - the center of the AD&D-Multiverse. The game has memorable NPCs like

Morte, the floating skull,Dak'kon, a githzerai,Nordom, a modron disconnected from its species' hive mind,Fall-From-Grace is a succubus-proprietress of the Brothel of Slating Intellectual Lusts,Vhailor an animated suit of armor,Ignus, a pyromaniacal mage,Annah-of-the-Shadows, a young and brash thief and tiefling.

when you describe the characters like that, its sound familiar to the cast in NVN2 OC

-- "I teach you the ‹bermensch. Man is something to be surpassed. What have you done to surpass mankind?"
-Some crazy guy that makes me sperge it up

Originally Posted by blatantninja
This might explain why I've had trouble getting into MotB.

And this doesn't explain why I've had trouble getting into PS:T. I never succeed leave the morgue and wonder how players find the patience to finish that part. I was bored to hear that there's something I don't know and there's to know, for me the heavy insistence was very bad tedious writing.

I know I know my opinion on the game means nothing because I haven't really played it yet. But reference Diablo is bad, because it reminds me that this beginning of PS:T is showing one of the most crappy fights design that I ever played only beat by Arcanum.

And for both it's far to be a detail because it's a main part of the game from number of fights to number of skills and items just related to fights. I'm impressed that some players can suffer such tedious moments in a game but for me it's one more reason why I couldn't bear the beginning of this game (but at replay attempts the story telling in the morgue was always the reason to "enough I give up").

And don't underestimate the digging I could have done in the game in this game beginning, even that I found it a poor bad design with hidden stuff with zero hints, it's crap "secret" design. Well it's an ambiguous point because the hints quality is nothing objective.

EDIT: One very weird thing is I remember have first played it at release with a French version and I noticed this version seems have vanished and many players had guaranty me that it was released only in English and only a mod was adding a French version. Alas I just have the box and lost the CD.

I. Defining Features

The three core categories Character Development, Exploration and Story that need to be applied and quantified to determine if an interactive computerized game can be labeled as a Computer Role Playing Game (hereafter referred to as CRPG) are listed to show the necessary component elements and qualifying factors.

Spoiler –i. Must Have

Any proposed or purported CRPG must contain all three core categories and their essential necessary Must Have conditions fulfilled to achieve the (minimal) CRPG status.

These core categories must maintain some form of progressive nature that will improve from when the game starts and leads to a conclusive game ending.

1. Character Development
Describes ways to create, change or enhance your characters in order to increase their effectiveness in the game.

MC1: You can control and role-play one or more unique characters (➙ avatar or party, not only uniform units.)Yes

MC2: You can progressively develop character stats or abilities (➙ e.g. through an in game value (usually exp. points) gained by quests, exploration, conversation, combat, …)Yes

MC3: You can equip items to enhance character stats or abilities Yes

MC4: Stat checks are required (➙ you need to develop your character in order to progress and finish the game)Yes

2. Exploration
Includes how you can move through the game world, as well as everything you can find, see, manipulate or interact with, like locations, items and other objects.

ME1: You can find new locations Yes

ME2: You can find and collect items (➙ There is an inventory. There must be more item types than quest items, weapons, ammunition or consumable stat boosters)Yes

MS3: You can progress through connected events while playing your character's role. Yes

Spoiler –ii. Should Have

Each core category and the auxiliary category Combat also have related Should Have conditions; the reviewer should make a comment if a sub list item is not fulfilled. Should one or more (SH) not be fulfilled the game is most likely a special CRPG (see Tags) or a CRPG light.

If all (SH) are fulfilled too there's no further discussion necessary — the game is a true CRPG.

1. Character Development
Describes ways to create, change or enhance your characters in order to increase their effectiveness in the game.

SC1: You can create your characters. Yes — You can distribute some stat points in the game at character creation, but that's it.

2. Exploration
Includes how you can move through the game world, as well as everything you can find, see, manipulate or interact with, like locations, items and other objects.

SE1: You can find NPCs (➙ non-player characters who you can interact with.)Yes

SE2: You can choose a path (➙ there is at least some branching.)Yes

SE3: You can interact with the game world (➙ e.g. you can pull levers, push buttons, open chests, hack computers, … appropriate to the game's setting)Yes

SE4: The gameworld can affect your characters' conditions or circumstances such that you have to learn and adapt to overcome these challenges (➙ e.g. weather, traps, closed doors, poisoned areas, …)Yes

II. CRPG Elements

Optional elements are listed in the Nice to Have (NtH) list. With it you get precise information which optional CRPG elements are implemented in the game. A general game info questionnaire is added too, to do some rating.

Spoiler –1. Character Development

Choice

You can name your characters. No

You can choose a gender. No

You can choose looks or voice. No

You can choose or create through play your own class, profession or race. Yes — You can change your class later in the game by talking to certain people.

You can choose traits, alignment or disposition. Yes — Your alignment changes based on your actions during the game.

You can choose abilities. Yes

You can choose spells. Yes

You can modify primary stats. Yes

Lots of different equipment is available. Yes

Lots of different spells or abilities are available. Yes

Abilities can unlock or block others or branch. No

Character classes or development paths can be changed during the game. Yes

-- "Mystery is important. To know everything, to know the whole truth, is dull. There is no magic in that. Magic is not knowing, magic is wondering about what and how and where." ~ Cortez, from The Longest Journey